ARRL Letter

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 24, No. 38
September 30, 2005
***************
IN THIS EDITION:
* +ARRL COO speaks on Capitol Hill about Amateur Radio's value
* +New federal grant boosts "Ham Aid" fund for hurricane volunteers
* +Hurricane-hit states still need Amateur Radio volunteers
* +Vanity call sign processing suspended
* +ARRL 2005 Toy Drive under way for hurricane victims
* +School space contact a success with help from local club
* +IARU seeks harmonized global ham radio response to BPL issues
* +SSETI Express launch postponed
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This weekend on the radio
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
ARRL Handbook 80th anniversary edition arrives
+Joel Hallas, W1ZR, is new QST Technical Editor
California QSO Party celebrates 40th anniversary this year
+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
===========================================================
==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
===========================================================
==>ARRL COO TESTIFIES ON CAPITOL HILL TO AMATEUR RADIO'S VALUE IN DISASTERS
ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, testified on behalf of the
League September 29 before the US House Subcommittee on Telecommunications
and the Internet. Addressing the hearing topic, "Public Safety
Communications from 9/11 to Katrina: Critical Public Policy Lessons," Kramer
reiterated and amplified comments ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP,
delivered earlier this month to the House Government Reform Committee. As
Haynie did on September 15, Kramer testified on the successful efforts of
Amateur Radio operators who provided communications during the Hurricane
Katrina response.
"Amateur Radio was uniquely suited to this task by virtue of the
availability of HF communications covering long distances without fixed
infrastructure," Kramer pointed out in his testimony. In addition to those
who responded to support relief agencies in hurricane-devastated areas,
thousands more radio amateurs outside the affected area monitored radio
traffic and relayed health-and-welfare messages, he said.
Kramer noted that there's been a lot of discussion in recent years about
public safety interoperability. "The Amateur Radio Service provides a good
deal of interoperability communications for first responders in disaster
relief incidents," he told the subcommittee. He said ham radio is able to
fill this crucial role because even the "interoperability channels" that
exist in most Public Safety allocations are useless when the Public Safety
communication infrastructure goes down.
"Interoperability, in short, presumes operability of Public Safety
facilities," Kramer said. "While some 'hardening' of Public Safety
facilities is called for, there is in our view an increasing role for
decentralized, portable Amateur Radio stations which are not
infrastructure-dependent in providing interoperability communication on
site."
Kramer told Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and his House colleagues
that Amateur Radio "is largely invisible to both the FCC and to Congress on
a daily basis, because it is virtually self-regulating and
self-administered," he said. "It is only during emergencies that the Amateur
Radio Service is in the spotlight." Also testifying at the subcommittee
session was FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin, and Kramer said he had the
opportunity to introduce himself to the chairman before the subcommittee
convened.
Kramer said he was honored to be chosen to provide the testimony on behalf
of the ARRL. "I am proud of Amateur Radio's and our role in the Katrina
relief effort," he added.
The text of Kramer's remarks before the subcommittee are available on the
ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/09/30/2/>.
==>FEDERAL GRANT AUGMENTS "HAM AID" FUND FOR HURRICANE VOLUNTEERS
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) will provide the
ARRL with an additional $77,000 to support Amateur Radio operators
volunteering in the field in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The latest
grant augments the recent $100,000 CNCS made available immediately following
the Katrina disaster. The grant money, supplemented by contributions from
individual donors, will subsidize "Ham Aid," a new League program to help
defray out-of pocket expenses of Amateur Radio volunteers deployed in the
field in disaster-stricken areas.
"The new funding of $77,000--added to the initial $100,000 award, for a
total of $177,000--is gratefully accepted to assist ham radio operators who
have incurred expenses related to their volunteer service," said ARRL Chief
Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH. "The per-diem awards of $25 per day
up to a maximum award of four days, or $100 per person, will cover
approximately 6000 'ham days' of service."
Ham Aid also will strengthen the role Amateur Radio can play in disaster
response by funding the preparation of complete "containerized" Amateur
Radio HF/VHF stations that include radios, antennas, feed lines, repeaters
and more, Hobart added. These are designed for deployment to disaster areas
where the Amateur Radio infrastructure has been compromised or additional
equipment is required.
The CNCS Ham Aid grant is effective for operations established and
documented as of September 1, 2005, and the aid is earmarked for Hurricane
Katrina deployments only at this point. Corporation funds may also sustain
the Ham Aid program and help to rebuild the emergency communications
capabilities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to ensure that the Gulf
Coast is prepared, should disaster strike again.
The grants represent an emergency amendment to ARRL's three year Homeland
Security training grant, which provided emergency communication training to
nearly 5500 Amateur Radio volunteer over the past three years. The recent
grant extensions do not cover additional ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications training program reimbursements, however.
Hobart says the League will accept reimbursement request applications on a
first-come, first served basis for as long as funds are available. For now,
the program only covers per-diem reimbursements between September 1 and
December 31, 2005, although that period may be extended.
The Hurricane Katrina ARRL Ham Aid Reimbursement Procedures are on the ARRL
Web site <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/cncs/>.
==>AMATEUR RADIO VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED
As of week's end, Amateur Radio volunteers still were needed to assist
relief agencies in the southern Mississippi counties hardest hit by
Hurricane Katrina. In addition ham radio volunteers were being sought to
support Hurricane Rita FEMA operations in Texas. ARRL Alabama Section
Manager Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, who's been at the American Red Cross volunteer
staging area in Montgomery for nearly a month now, says turning the
"operator pipeline" back on after holding off on soliciting additional
volunteers has been slow.
"Three Mississippi Gulf Coast counties need amateurs in EOCs, American Red
Cross shelters and other locations to provide reliable communication,"
Sarratt said. He's trying to fill a need for 18 operators in Hancock County,
24 in Harrison County and 9 in Jackson County. Sarratt reported he was
already getting word on the availability of fresh recruits via the
nationwide network of ARRL SMs and SECs <http://www.arrl.org/sections/>.
Prospective volunteers may indicate their willingness to deploy by first
signing up on the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Communications & Volunteer
Registration and Message Traffic Database <http://katrina.ab2m.net/>, then
awaiting word on whether to deploy. Operators should not self-deploy! If
requested to report, they should notify their ARRL SEC.
Volunteers who are asked to deploy would report to the Montgomery marshaling
center to receive orientation and a specific assignment. Some volunteers
will help support communication at Red Cross shelters set up for evacuees,
while others will provide tactical communication for feeding stations.
Amateur Radio Station W4AP at the Montgomery staging facility monitors 7.280
MHz days/3.965 MHz evenings to keep in touch with HF-equipped mobile
operators who are traveling to or are at their assigned locations.
Operators requested to deploy should be self-sufficient with some food,
fuel, water and camping gear sufficient to cover their travel to and
operation in affected areas. Shelters are supplying food for ham radio
volunteers in affected communities, however.
In Louisiana, where New Orleans and several parishes suffered severe damage
from Hurricane Katrina, SEC Gary Stratton, K5GLS, says local ARES members
are still handling communication request and needs that arise. He says that
first responders are expected to enter Cameron Parish this weekend. Amateur
Radio volunteers have been asked to accompany law enforcement personnel to
support their internal communication on this mission. Flood waters in
Louisiana have been receding, and most shelters now have telephone service,
electricity and running water.
Meanwhile, the Amateur Radio response to Hurricane Rita continues. North
Texas SEC Bill Swan, K5MWC, reports that two teams from his section are in
Jasper, Texas, to assist the Salvation Army. He predicts that more ham radio
volunteers will be called to assist after cities such as Beaumont and Port
Arthur are reopened for residents to return.
In San Augustine County, Texas, Marshall Williams, K5QE, says that up to
eight ARES-trained Amateur Radio volunteers are needed for one week minimum
stints to support the FEMA-coordinated disaster relief operation with mobile
HF SSB and VHF FM. Prospective volunteers may register their availability on
the Hurricane Rita Disaster Communications Volunteer Registration & Message
Traffic Database <http://rita.ab2m.net/>. The FEMA support requirement is
likely to continue for several weeks, with up to eight volunteers needed
each week.
The need is for self-contained operators who can provide their own shelter,
water and some or all of their food for a week. The duty tour will involve
working in high humidity and temperatures, so anyone with medical problems
that could be aggravated by these conditions should not volunteer for this
assignment.
The West Gulf ARES Emergency Net (7.285 MHz days/3.873 MHz evenings) is
providing daily updates on the Hurricane Rita emergency response at noon and
7 PM Central Daylight Time.
==>AMATEUR RADIO VANITY PROCESSING FALLS VICTIM TO HURRICANES
The FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) has suspended the
processing of Amateur Radio vanity call sign applications. A WTB staff
member, speaking to ARRL on background, said the FCC halted vanity
processing on or about September 23 after realizing that filing and
regulatory deadline extensions for hurricane-affected licensees in certain
states could adversely impact the vanity system. The WTB staffer pointed out
that the filing extensions announced this month also apply to Amateur
Radio's two-year "grace period."
"Because these extensions apply to the grace period, it could affect vanity
processing," the WTB staffer told ARRL. "We stopped processing when it came
clear that some call signs could be affected." No decision has been made on
when vanity processing will resume.
On September 1, the FCC extended until October 31 all filing and regulatory
deadlines falling between August 29 and October 30 for licensees in
Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana affected by Hurricane Katrina. On
September 24, it extended until November 21 all filing and regulatory
deadlines falling between September 20 and November 20 for licensees in
Louisiana and Texas affected by Hurricane Rita.
The WTB staff member emphasized that the FCC intended the deadline
extensions to apply only to licensees who have been directly impacted by the
storms. "These are not statewide extensions," the staffer said.
Under Part 97, Amateur Radio licensees have two years from the date of
license expiration to renew their tickets without having to retest or risk
losing their call signs to a vanity applicant. The staffer confirmed that
WTB had disabled the "auto-termination" feature of the Universal Licensing
System (ULS) so that it will not automatically cancel licenses that have not
been renewed by the end of the grace period.
"We can't assume based on address who might be affected," the staff member
explained, "so we're not auto-terminating anything at this point."
In the meantime, the FCC is encouraging radio amateurs to continue filing
vanity applications as they normally would. "Everything will be held in
queue," the WTB staff member said.--thanks to Dean Gibson, AE7Q, for
alerting ARRL to this situation
==>ARRL ANNOUNCES 2005 TOY DRIVE FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS
In the wake of unprecedented hurricane devastation in the Gulf Coast region,
the ARRL has announced it will again sponsor a toy drive to brighten the
holidays for youngsters left homeless or displaced as a result of the
storms. Country singer and ARRL member Patty Loveless, KD4WUJ, has agreed to
serve as honorary chairperson for the 2005 toy drive. ARRL President Jim
Haynie, W5JBP, is urging the Amateur Radio community to pitch in.
"Last year, hams from all over the country brought smiles to children during
the holidays," Haynie said. "We made a lot of friends, and we did a lot of
good. No one expected that we would need to do it again so soon, but the
recent hurricanes' destruction changed the plans of a lot of people."
Last year, individual radio amateurs and clubs across the US joined together
to collect new toys for youngsters affected by a series of four hurricanes
in Florida. ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, says
the 2004 effort was a success beyond anyone's wildest dreams, and there was
no question in his mind about doing another toy drive for the latest
hurricane victims.
"Not only can it be done, it really must be done. It is simply the right
thing to do," he said. "We are asking hams from all over the country to
begin gathering new toys for shipment to Memphis, Tennessee. ARRL Delta
Division Vice Director Henry Leggette, WD4Q, has secured a receiving
warehouse and is recruiting ham volunteers there."
Ham radio clubs and individual amateurs should send new, unwrapped toys for
boys and girls aged 1 to 14 to ARRL Toy Drive, 1775 Moriah Woods Blvd--Suite
12, Memphis, TN 38117-7125. Plan mailings and shipments to arrive prior to
Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24, for distribution over the holidays.
"Just as we did last year, we are asking the donors to please put a QSL card
into the box with the toy," Pitts added. Non-hams are encouraged to join
this effort too.
"Early in December, we will divide the toys among the various agencies and
states that need help the most at that point in time," Pitts explained. "We
are making these arrangements so that we can maximize the areas receiving
aid while maintaining the unique identity that this is the Amateur Radio
Community's response."
Pitts says he's heard from many Amateur Radio clubs that are already
gathering toys together. "Please check with your local club and see if they
are planning a mass shipment," he urged. "If not, perhaps you can help
organize one for your area."
Monetary donations to purchase new toys for special age groups and to help
cover operational expenses also are welcome. Those wishing to donate money
instead of toys can send a check to ARRL Toy Drive, ARRL, 225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111.
==>LOCAL HAM CLUB MEMBERS ASSIST IN SPACE CONTACT AT MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL
A dozen youngsters from two NASA Explorer Schools (NES) spoke September 16
via Amateur Radio with International Space Station Expedition 11 NASA
Science Officer John Phillips, KE5DRY. The contact between W1ACT at the
Matthew J. Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Massachusetts, and NA1SS in
space was arranged by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) program. The audience of more than 100 parents, faculty members,
fellow students and dignitaries was split between two locations, reports
Roland Daignault, N1JOY, of the Fall River Amateur Radio Club/Bristol County
Repeater Association. Club members, who have set up a club station and
conducted licensing classes at Kuss Middle School, assisted in the contact.
"We were set up in the Kuss library with about 50 people present, including
Mayor Ed Lambert, and Senator Joan Menard, who presented a citation to the
Kuss students for their work," Daignault said. "We also set up an ATV link
to the church hall across the street, where about 50 more people were
watching our live video feed of the event projected onto a large screen."
W1ACT is the call sign of the Fall River ARC. The school's club station
equipment was used to make the successful two-way space contact.
Ten of the youngsters who participated in the ARISS event were from Kuss
Middle School. Two seventh graders from Central Park Middle School in
Schenectady, New York, also took part in the contact. Both schools are NES
partners. Six of the students who got to speak with Phillips are Amateur
Radio licensees.
The event drew a great deal of media attention with reporters from three
television stations from nearby Providence, Rhode Island, the Comcast local
access cable channel, Fall River Educational Television (FRED-TV), and two
newspapers in attendance. In addition, the Museum of Science, Boston, was
doing a documentary of the school contact, Daignault said.
The youngsters managed to ask Phillips 22 of the 24 questions they had on
their list. Among other things, they asked what ham radio equipment the ISS
had onboard, if Phillips thought a person with special needs could ever work
on the ISS and if becoming an astronaut was his first career choice.
Mentoring and attending the Massachusetts event was ARISS International
Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO.
"Needless to say, there were plenty of smiling faces at the end of the
event," Daignault commented.
ARISS is an international educational outreach with US participation by
ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
==>IARU EYES GLOBAL COORDINATION OF AMATEUR RADIO'S BPL/EMC RESPONSE
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Administrative Council will
explore ways to improve the coordination of Amateur Radio's representation
on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues at national, regional and
global forums. Meeting September 17-18 in Zurich, Switzerland, the Council
also made further progress firming up plans to deal with Amateur
Radio-related issues at World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07).
The Council requested the International Secretariat (ARRL)--in conjunction
with the EMC advisor--seek ways to better harmonize Amateur Radio's EMC
response at meetings and conferences. The study, prompted mainly by concerns
about interference from broadband over power line (BPL), is to be completed
by year's end. The objective is to recommend steps, subject to Council
approval, to arrive at a more unified Amateur Radio position regarding BPL
and EMC and to "maintain a favorable EMC environment for radio services."
At its October 2004 session, the Administrative Council adopted a resolution
concerning potential interference to radio services from BPL systems. The
Council resolved to urge member-societies to make national administrations
and standards bodies aware of their obligations under the international
Radio Regulations. Those rules, in part, call on administrations to "take
all practicable and necessary steps to ensure that the operation of
electrical apparatus or installations of any kind, including power and
telecommunication distribution networks . . . does not cause harmful
interference to a radiocommunication service."
A principal focus was on WRC-07 preparations. The Administrative Council
affirmed the IARU's positions on agenda items. WRC-07 issues facing Amateur
Radio include the possible identification of additional HF spectrum between
4 and 10 MHz for broadcasting, which could put pressure on other services. A
possible international amateur allocation in the vicinity of 136 kHz is also
on the agenda.
In other business, the Council established a small working group to develop
an international emergency communications handbook for radio amateurs based
on existing texts. The International Secretariat (ARRL) was requested to
produce a brochure on Amateur Radio response to emergencies.
The Council thanked Bob Knowles, ZL1BAD, for his more than 20 years of
volunteer service as IARU Monitoring System (IARUMS) International
Coordinator. Knowles recently stepped down from the position, which he'd
occupied since the inception of IARUMS.
Attending the gathering were IARU President Larry Price, W4RA; Vice
President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA; Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ; Ole
Garpestad, LA2RR; Don Beattie, G3BJ; Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T; ARRL
International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD; Dario Jurado,
HP1DJ; Y. S. Park, HL1IFM; Chandru Ramchandra, VU2RCR; Yoshi Sekido, JJ1OEY,
and Recording Secretary Paul Rinaldo, W4RI.
==>SSETI EXPRESS LAUNCH DELAYED INDEFINITELY
The launch of the Student Space Exploration and Technology Initiative
(SSETI) Express satellite, which will carry an Amateur Radio package, has
been postponed indefinitely. That announcement this week from SSETI Express
Project Manager Neil Melville put a damper on the enthusiasm building in
anticipation of a planned September 30 launch. Melville blamed the delay on
the failure of another spacecraft set to go into space during the launch
from Russia.
"Early indications suggest that we have a delay of at least one month, but
this is not confirmed," he said. "This is, of course, very unfortunate, but
it is not critical," he went on. "The spacecraft can easily wait for the new
launch date without any significant problems, and we will fly it as soon as
we can." When it does fly, the SSETI Express, which also carries three
CubeSat picosatellites, will leave Earth from Plesetsk Cosmodrome via a
Cosmos-3M LV vehicle.
The Cosmos-3M will deploy the Topsat, China DMC and the low-Earth orbit 60
kg SSETI Express satellites. Plans call for downlinking AX.25 telemetry at
9.6 kb on 437.250 MHz and at 38.4 kb on 2401.835 MHz. The satellite will be
turned into a single-channel amateur FM voice Mode U/S transponder after the
transmitter serves initial telemetry duty.
SSETI Express will, in turn, release the three CubeSats--NCUBE-2, UWE-1, and
XI-V. The XI-V ("sai five") package will include a CW beacon on 437.465 MHz
and FM packet on 437.345 MHz.
The ESA SSETI Express initiative has brought together students from two
dozen European universities via the Internet to build and launch a
satellite. ESA provides managerial and technical coordination.
There's more information on the AMSAT-UK Web site, www.uk.amsat.org/ and on
the AMSAT-NA Web site, www.amsat.org.
"We'll get there eventually," Melville optimistically concluded this week.
"Watch this space."
==>SOLAR UPDATE
Sunspot seeker Tad "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" Cook, K7RA, Seattle,
Washington, reports: Average daily sunspot numbers dropped over the past
week by more than 16 points to 29.7. Solar flux values were down 20 points
to 80.2. The week was quiet with no geomagnetic storms. September 26-28 had
the most geomagnetic activity, but it was all pretty mild. The K index for
middle latitude and planetary readings only went to 3 or 4 on occasion and
quickly dropped back to 2.
The forecast for the next few days, September 30 to October 2, is for low
sunspot activity. The next peak of activity may be when sunspot 798 returns.
It's currently on the sun's far side. That activity should peak around
October 14-16.
The geomagnetic prediction for this weekend is for mild to unsettled
conditions, with the planetary A index for September 30 through October 3 at
15, 15, 12 and 12. Prague Geophysical Institute predicts quiet conditions
for October 5 and 6, quiet to unsettled conditions October 3 and 4, and
unsettled conditions September 30 through October 2.
Sunspot numbers for September 22 through 28 were 28, 49, 33, 28, 25, 23 and
22, with a mean of 29.7. The 10.7 cm flux was 83.7, 82.8, 81.4, 81, 81.3,
76.9, and 74.6, with a mean of 80.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 8,
8, 4, 5, 14, 13 and 12, with a mean of 9.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices
were 6, 5, 2, 3, 9, 10 and 12, with a mean of 6.7.
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* This weekend on the radio: The California QSO Party, the TARA PSK Rumble
Contest, the Oceania DX Contest (SSB), the International HELL-Contest, the
EU Autumn Sprint (SSB), the PRO CW Contest, the UBA ON Contest (SSB) and the
RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest (SSB) are the weekend of Oct 1-2. JUST AHEAD: The
German Telegraphy Contest is October 3. The YLRL Anniversary Party (CW) is
October 5-7. the 432 MHz Fall Sprint is October 5 and the SARL 80-Meter QSO
Party is October 6. The Pennsylvania QSO Party, the FISTS Fall Sprint, the
North American Sprint (RTTY), the Makrothen RTTY Contest, the Oceania DX
Contest (CW), EU Autumn Sprint (CW) and the UBA ON Contest (CW) are the
weekend of October 8-9. The 10-10 International 10-10 Day Sprint is October
10. The NAQCC 80/40 Straight Key/Bug Sprint is October 12. See the ARRL
Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info.
* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration is open through Sunday, October 2, for these ARRL Certification
and Continuing Education courses: ARRL Radio Frequency Interference
(EC-006); ARRL Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009); ARRL Technician
Licensing (EC-010); ARRL Analog Electronics (EC-012) and ARRL Digital
Electronics (EC-013). All classes begin Friday, October 14. To learn more
and to see a description of these and other on-line courses, visit the ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce> or
contact the ARRL CCE Department <cce@arrl.org&gt;.
* ARRL Handbook 80th anniversary edition arrives: A truck convoy of
18-wheelers rolled up to the ARRL warehouse September 28, delivering
thousands of copies of the newest ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications.
The 2006 edition marks the Handbook's 80th anniversary, and the
publication's arrival at the ARRL warehouse means copies will be shipping
very soon. ARRL technical editor Dean Straw, N6BV, served as the principal
editor for this 83rd edition. The 2006 Handbook includes a new high-power HF
linear amplifier project. Built around the Eimac 3CX1500D7, the design is
the brainchild of Jerry Pittenger, K8RA (see October 2005 QST, p 13). To
celebrate this special Handbook anniversary, those placing early orders for
the 2006 edition will receive a reproduction of the very first edition of
The Radio Amateur's Handbook. Published in 1926 and authored by the late
ARRL Communications Manager Francis Edward "Ed" Handy, W1BDI, this 224-page
volume is a facsimile of Handy's signed, personal "desk copy" and even
includes some of his handwritten notes. While supplies last, the 2006
Handbook offer is available only directly from ARRL and from select ARRL
publication dealers. The 2006 Handbook comes with The ARRL Handbook on
CD-ROM Ver 10.0--fully searchable with additional software and reference
material. Early Handbook orders begin shipping the first week of October.
The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is $54.95 in hardcover, $39.95 in
softcover. Visit the ARRL on-line catalog
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=no-hb2006>.
* Joel Hallas, W1ZR, is new QST Technical Editor: Joel Hallas, W1ZR, has
been promoted to the position of QST Technical Editor. Hallas, who had been
serving as the magazine's "Product Review" editor, replaces Stu Cohen, N1SC,
who has departed the ARRL Headquarters staff. "Joel brings a strong
technical and management background to his new position, which involves
planning the technical content of QST and ensuring that it is of the highest
quality and useful to ARRL members," QST Managing Editor Joel Kleinman,
N1BKE, said in announcing the change. Hallas also is a member of the team
that reviews technical articles submitted for QST publication. He holds
bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and has been on
the ARRL Headquarters staff for two years. Congratulations, Joel! Former
ARRL Chief Operating Officer Mark Wilson, K1RO, has taken on "Product
Review" editorial responsibilities. In recent additions to the ARRL staff:
Devon Neal has joined the Graphics Department. A graduate of Porter &
Chester Institute, his responsibilities include creating schematics and
illustrations for QST and other League publications. Lisa Riendeau has
joined the ARRL VEC Department. She brings seven years' experience in
customer service to her new position at ARRL. Welcome aboard!
* California QSO party celebrates 40th anniversary this year: The 40th
anniversary celebration of the California QSO Party (CQP) is the weekend of
October 1-2. All 58 California counties are expected to be on the air for
the event. Tom Frenaye, formerly WB6KIL and now K1KI (and ARRL's New England
Division Director), and Gene Hoelzle, WB6EUZ, organized the first running of
the CQP while still in high school. The Northern California Contest Club
(NCCC) took over its sponsorship in 1975. A special-edition CQP T-shirt is
available for those making 100 contacts during the event and submitting
their logs along with $12 ($15 for DX entries, for whom the 100-QSO minimum
is waived). Specify size: M/L/XL/XXL. More information is on the CQP Web
site <http://www.cqp.org/>.--Marc Ziegler, W6ZZZ
===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American
Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259;
<http://www.arrl.org/>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President.
The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of interest
to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise,
and readable. Visit ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest news,
updated as it happens. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> offers
access to news, informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
compiled from The ARRL Letter.
Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to
The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.
==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org/>
==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
860-594-0384
==>How to Get The ARRL Letter
The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly from
ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail
delivery:
ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
<http://www.arrl.org/members/>. You'll have an opportunity during
registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW
bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including
delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the "Member
Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify membership
data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change your e-mail
address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all automatically sent
email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.) Then, click on "Submit
modification" to make selections effective. (NOTE: HQ staff members cannot
change your e-mail delivery address. You must do this yourself via the
Members Only Web Site.)
The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
sources:
* ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will be
posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)
* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur Radio
Club: Visit Mailing Lists@QTH.Net
<http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>. (NOTE: The ARRL
cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this listserver.)

The ARRL Letter

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly summary of essential news of interest to active amateurs that is available in advance of publication in QST, our official journal. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise and readable.

Much of the ARRL Letter content is also available in audio form in ARRL Audio News.

Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.

Back issues published since 2000 are available on this page. If you wish to subscribe via e-mail, simply log on to the ARRL Web site, click on Edit Your Profile at the top, then click on Edit Email Subscriptions. Check the box next to The ARRL email newsletter, the ARRL Letter and you will receive each weekly issue in HTML format. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Plain-Text

The ARRL E-Letter e-mail is also available in plain-text version:

Outlook Express

1. From the Inbox view, select the Tools menu and the Options selection.

2. Click the Read tab

3. Check the Read All Messages In Plain Text box. When you open the e-mail, it will be in plain text without images. Other e-mail programs may be able to make a Mail Rule for e-mail received from the address memberlist@www.arrl.org so that the plain-text-only display is selected automatically.

Outlook 2007

Use the same procedure as for Outlook Express, although the global option is under "Tools/Trust Center/E-mail Security".

Use the "Message text garbled?" link in the drop-down menu at the upper right of the displayed message block. pine, alpine Set "prefer-plain-text" in your ~/.pinerc configuration file: feature-list=..., prefer-plain-text, ...